DR Congo | Opposition Surges Over $24 Trillion U.S. Mineral Deal
Oasis Media Collective | Central Africa Wire | February 12, 2026
KEY FACTS
DRC opposition lawyers and activists are challenging a major agreement granting U.S. companies access to critical minerals worth an estimated $24 trillion.
Critics argue the deal threatens national sovereignty, lacks transparency, and may worsen insecurity in conflict-prone eastern provinces.
A lawsuit has been filed against the pact, elevating opposition from rhetoric to institutional challenge.
The DRC controls approximately 50% of global cobalt reserves plus significant deposits of coltan, lithium, and copper, all critical for global energy transition.
Political opposition to a landmark mineral deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and U.S.-linked companies is intensifying, with critics warning the agreement could undermine sovereignty and exacerbate violence in the nation’s resource-rich but conflict-torn provinces.
The agreement grants American firms expanded access to the DRC’s vast reserves of cobalt, coltan, lithium, and copper, minerals essential to electric vehicle batteries, electronics, and renewable energy infrastructure. The DRC holds roughly 50% of the world’s cobalt and substantial deposits of other critical minerals, making it a critical part of the Trump administration’s strategy to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from China.
President Félix Tshisekedi’s government frames the $24 trillion deal as strategic integration into Western supply chains, along with receiving American support in the country’s ongoing conflict with the M23 rebel movement. However, domestic opposition has arisen over fears of sovereignty erosion. Civil society figures argue the contract terms disproportionately favor foreign interests without guaranteeing adequate revenue-sharing or Congolese control over extraction. A lawsuit filed against the deal by lawyers and activists has raised political stakes for Tshisekedi.
Security concerns are also high due to geography. Many valuable mineral deposits lie in North and South Kivu, provinces plagued by militia activity, including M23. Expanding foreign mining operations could increase armed groups’ targeting of resource zones, potentially escalating violence in regions already destabilized by competing militias and cross-border tensions.
Tshisekedi faces a delicate balancing act: attracting foreign investment while managing nationalist sentiment, stabilizing war-torn provinces, and avoiding perceptions of elite capture. If the agreement is seen as secretive or unequal, it could fuel opposition mobilization and undermine his reform credentials at a time when the country is embroiled in deep conflict.
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